Why 'bland' Leapmotor was the real star of the Paris motor show

At the Paris motor show, the spotlight for Stellantis wasn’t on the most glamorous displays—it was on Leapmotor’s new B03 small electric car. While Stellantis framed its stand around “jam tomorrow,” Leapmotor brought a model that will go on sale from early next year with 194bhp, a 242-mile range, and 133kW charging capability, with an expected price in the low-£20,000s. The brand’s presence was boosted by Stellantis holding a 51% stake in Leapmotor’s Chinese partner for international sales. The report contrasts Leapmotor’s tech and launch speed with Stellantis’s reliance on concept cars amid a European launch slowdown, even as Q3 2026 sales rose 10%.